i'm looking for a elk rifle for my girlfriend the biggest game it will see use on is elk but i need as little recoil as possible, i'm looking at the 7mm-08, 308, 270 win, or 270 wsm. which would have the least recoil but still have the power to knock an elk down. i have experience only with the 270 win and am fearing it may have to much recoil for her.
elk rifle
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Bambistew
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You're picking nits. The wsm will kick harder than the other 3 shooting 'elk' weight bullets.
IMO a 308 would be a perfect rifle for elk/deer for someone who can't handle recoil. On the other hand do you know what kind of recoil she can handle? My wife isn't very big and has no problems shooting a 325wsm or 12ga, and has an itch to get a 30-06.
IMO a 308 would be a perfect rifle for elk/deer for someone who can't handle recoil. On the other hand do you know what kind of recoil she can handle? My wife isn't very big and has no problems shooting a 325wsm or 12ga, and has an itch to get a 30-06.
silverstatehunter
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I used to shoot a 308 when I was a kid and it worked great for me. It provided enough power, and gave a very mild kick compared to my 7mm and my dads 30.06. I think a 243 is the best deer rifle for a girl however might not cut it for elk. I like the 308 it should be perfect.
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Spencer
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>I like the 308 it should be perfect.
I agree with Silverstate. The .308 with a 165gr Nosler Partition or Accubond is a great elk load. My wife is 5' and about 125 lbs....she shoots my .308 with ease.
The .308 with a 150gr bullet is an excellent deer rifle as well. Just put a good recoil pad on it and go to shooting.
Scott
Member: RMEF, SCI, and NRA
I agree with Silverstate. The .308 with a 165gr Nosler Partition or Accubond is a great elk load. My wife is 5' and about 125 lbs....she shoots my .308 with ease.
The .308 with a 150gr bullet is an excellent deer rifle as well. Just put a good recoil pad on it and go to shooting.
Scott
Member: RMEF, SCI, and NRA
Four calibers come to mind if you don't want a muzzle break. The 7mm/08 then the .260 Rem and the .308 and a .25/06. All four will be great for deer and will also take an elk. The only thing I'll caution you on is, buy them something that is fun to shoot and doesn't hurt them to use. An up graded recoil pad like a limbsaver of Pachmayer decelerator will tame it down quite a bit. These are proven winners for women and Browning, Remington and Savage all make a model that's cut down to fit them in some of the calibers. If she shoots a lot a more potent round will work but If her experience is limited I'd stick to one of these and build on that later if she can handle it.
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BowHuntWithaRifle
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Give her a .300 win mag with a nice muzzel break on it. The kick is minimal anyway on a .300, but with a break on it, it is like shooting a .243... Thats what I shoot anyway with no problems. But I'm also 5'7. How tall is she, shoulder frame? I ask only due to the size of the .300. I've seen bad things happen when folks use to small a rifle for big game. Bullet won't penitrate through the thick hair and hide to mushroom and give a good intry hole and do damage internally.
SDBugler
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My 12 and 14 year old sons both shoot remington 270 WSM's with 140 grain bullets (hot handloads though). They each weigh just under 100 pounds and don't have any problems with recoil. The limbsaver recoil pad on the remingtons is GREAT. I have a remington 300SAUM that also came with the limbsaver recoil pad and my boys can shoot 50 rounds (with heavier 180 grain bullets) through this gun in one session without any problems. All three of the above guns have lightweight synthetic stocks as well.
You may want to consider adding this recoil pad to whatever gun you end up selecting. However, keep in mind that they are thick and will increase the stock length slightly which could affect the fit and make it harder to shoulder.
I think most calibers can be controlled with good recoil pads or muzzle breaks. I think the most important issue for kids or small framed women is getting a lightweight gun that fits them correctly. Remember, they have to carry that thing up and down the mountain before they get a chance for the shot.
You may want to consider adding this recoil pad to whatever gun you end up selecting. However, keep in mind that they are thick and will increase the stock length slightly which could affect the fit and make it harder to shoulder.
I think most calibers can be controlled with good recoil pads or muzzle breaks. I think the most important issue for kids or small framed women is getting a lightweight gun that fits them correctly. Remember, they have to carry that thing up and down the mountain before they get a chance for the shot.
I have a Ruger Ultra Lite in 7mm-08 that my kids have killed animals with, including elk, since they were 12. I've killed a bunch of deer with it. I have killed elk with a 25-06 at long ranges. If you reload you can load up some light loads for practice and some heavier loads for hunting. You just need to check to make sure the rifle is sighted-in with the load you are shooting. My kids never noticed the switch to a heavier load when we were after the real thing. The 257 Roberts has killed plenty of elk also. I think the main thing is get enough practice and then get her in position for a good easy shot.
Good luck,
Bob
Good luck,
Bob
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blkdeath
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My wife and I shoot the same rifle. A Browning a-bolt composite stalker (hence blkdeath). It is chambered for 7mm and does have the boss. If you read Browning's charts they will tell you it kicks equal to a .243. The only problem is she can't free hand shoot without using a shooting stick. This gun has a 26" barrel and bipod so it is heavy. If I was to get her a rifle it would be a 25-06. Extremely flat shooting and low recoil. With the correct bullet and placement it will kill elk.
CAelknuts
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Any of the three mentioned, .270, 7mm-08 and .308 will work just fine. I think way too many of us get caught up in using the largest caliber we can shoot, and I'm as guilty as any since my main rifle is a .338 win mag.
With all that said, stop and think for a moment how many tens of thousands, and probably hundreds of thousands, of elk have been killed with a .270 since it was developed way back when. There is NOTHING wrong with a .270 for elk, if you use good bullets and use commons sense. So, a .308 might be even better if you'll be hunting elk more than deer, but either will do find, as will that 7mm-08.
Common sense is more important than the caliber.
With all that said, stop and think for a moment how many tens of thousands, and probably hundreds of thousands, of elk have been killed with a .270 since it was developed way back when. There is NOTHING wrong with a .270 for elk, if you use good bullets and use commons sense. So, a .308 might be even better if you'll be hunting elk more than deer, but either will do find, as will that 7mm-08.
Common sense is more important than the caliber.
hossblur
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Grew up with a .308, in a light gun the recoil can be severe(savage 99). Their isn't much difference between the .06 and .270 in this regard. A guide I know has his wife shoot a 25-06. But remember that the gun itself is more important, if you go with a lighter gun, the recoil will increase and since you seem to headed down this road I would go 25-06 or 7mm-08, but shells can be harder to find for these depending on where you live.
txhunter58
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1st: 308
2nd: 7mm-08
Put a SIMS recoil pad on either and she will not mind the recoil, I promise. The work great.
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
2nd: 7mm-08
Put a SIMS recoil pad on either and she will not mind the recoil, I promise. The work great.
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
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echoman
Guest
Go with the .308 I think you would regret going with a 25-06, or .270 if all it was ever going to see was elk. My very first hunting trip I watched my dad shoot a 5 point rag horn bull 5 times with a 25-06, after tracking the elk for a hour we found that it was hit in the vitals 4 times
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stinkystomper
Guest
I've had no problems in my early years of elk hunting with a 270 so I would vote that.
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bukhunter
Guest
I would have to go with the 30-06 with 180 grain boattails. My dad has got a cow elk with a 243 w/150 grain boattail.
